Musselman hosts veterans

Posted on November 19, 2008 by WVCTA

The Journal-News
November 19, 2008

The event is part of a statewide history program

INWOOD – Musselman High School hosted Take a Veteran to School Day on Tuesday with a special luncheon and panel discussion, where local veterans shared their war experiences.

The event, sponsored by the West Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association, included 24 veterans and six panelists who shared their experiences with high school students in an effort to preserve their stories as part of American history.

U.S. Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., launched the program on Nov. 10, and the History Channel has taken part by filming veterans interacting with students and teachers.

The WVCTA, led by local cable operator Comcast, initiated the idea of bringing veterans into the high schools and using broadband capabilities to record their stories as part of the Library of Congress’ Veterans History Project. Similar events are taking place across the state.

Students from the National Honor Society and the Library Club served as volunteers during the event by escorting and talking to the veterans.

“Just like these veterans supported us to give us our freedom, students supported them by escorting them and helping them while they were here,” said Barbara Frankenberry, a local librarian who helped with the event.

Students from the cafe class prepared the luncheon, which was sponsored by the Martinsburg-South Berkeley Public Library.

Several of the panelists had special connections to Musselman, including Jerry Horner, a graduate of Musselman; Bob Frankenberry, a substitute teacher, and Mark Reckner, a Musselman graduate who was invited by his daughter, a student at the school.

Veterans were recognized with a special Musselman High School Take a Veteran to School certificate.

Approximately 330 students were invited, including 44 who were selected by their history teachers to attend the assembly.

Nate Daugherty, government and community affairs representative from Comcast, said that Comcast leaders partnered with several high schools to bring Take a Veteran to School day to state schools this week.

“Comcast is always really proud to partner with veterans groups and celebrate our veterans. That was our ultimate goal,” Daugherty said. “This was designed to be a thank you to our veterans from Comcast, (and we) hope we were able to do that today.”